Dispensing container



Nov. 25, 1958 o. c. WINZEN DISPENSING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril e, 1956 INVENTOR. Orro C! I V/NZEN ATTR- J Nov. 25, 1,958 o. c.WINZEN oxspsmsmc CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1956 N mm mmW C m T O ATToR/VEYS Nov. 25, 1958 v o. c. WINZEN 2,851,713

1 DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed April 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.01- 0 C. VV/NZEN Arman gm Nov. 25, 1958 o. c. WINZEN- DISPENSINGCONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1956 .1 w, M 1 (x U m w a 8 II 5 W. in/. a v

INVENTOR. 07-7-0 CVV/NzE/v United States Patent 2,861,718 DISPENSiNG\CQNTAINER Otto c. Win zen, Mar a rawrshapakoacoumy,

Minn assignor to WinzemResearch, Inc, Minneapolis,

Minn., a corporation oliMinne a i I v Application April 6, 1956, serialNo. 576,668

' F '12 Claims; (ci.22"2-'-i6'7 This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in;dispenlsing'containers, and particularly todispensingcontainers of the typeanalogousjto that shownjin Patent No. 2,377,261,issued May 29, 1945';

pensed from the container.

It is therefore an object of this invention to providea new and usefuldispensing container; g Y 1 A further object of this invention is toprovide a sanitary disposable fluidtight container from which the fluidmay readily be extracted; 3

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid container usinginexpensive andconvenientlyavailable materials;- g v; A 9

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a new and usefulcontainer of the type used in fluid dispensing apparatus presentlyavailable;

Still a furtherobject of the inventlon is to provide a versatile packagefor containing fluids in which the fluid is contained in a flexiblefluid'tight'containenhaving a discharge means, the dischargem'eansandthe-fluid tight container aresecurely positioned vwithin a supporting outer shell, a removable cover means is providedsfor at least a portionof the outer shell and whichrmaynbe removed to expose thedispensing-*means whereby; the fluid. may readily be dispensed; 1 LStill other andiurther objects of the invention reside inthe structuraldetails ofthe container including the inner bag or liner; the outershell;ethe jdispensirigi'means; the cooperation 4 of the dispensingmea'n'sewith the inner linerand the-outer shell; thecovering andspacingrneans removably positioned on the outer-shell for positioningand concealing f the I dispensing means;- and the means whereby the'covermeans may readily-be removed;

Qther objects of the invent-iomare;v thoseiuhejrent and apparentin thestructure as-described; -;illustrated= and claimed and will:becomewfurtherrapparent-as the exposiflo -Pr d e 5- 1) =7 *3 LI r- To;t-heaccomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventiontheni-comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointedgout -in the claims, the following description Isetting; forth i in 3 detail certain illustrative embodiments-ofithejnvention, ,these being, indicative, however, of but aiew -of -theyarious ways inwhich the principles of the invention may be em};

Phi itv .C'. ::-';i 2,1 ,This invention will bedescribed with referenceto the drawings in which,co rresponding 'numerals refer to the sameparts andin whichz, Figure ,1 is a vertically exploded, partiallyillustration of the-instant invention; 5; v .Fi gure 2 is a perspectiveview of 1116001131381 ev fluid tight-inner container or :1iner oftheeinstant inventionm:1;- L.Figuret.-3 is "an enlarged -frag'mentarwiew partially in sectional in vertical section, of the discharge meansor vent of Figurez; V 7

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of Figure vlassembled; t

Figure 5, is an'isometric view of the bottom structure of Figure ,4 withthebottom cover removed and showing the dischargemeans;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the structure of Figure 1 assembled andshowing a modified top' cover structure therefor; g I 1 Figure 7 is aview similar to Figure 6 and showing such' modified cover in open orbent back position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 7 but showing liquidbeing poured-from the openingprovided by the modified coverof Figure 6;c L a Figure'9 is-a view si'milarto Figure 4 but showing a modified formof the invention; r v t Figure 10 is a 'sectional bottom plan view ofthestructure of Figure 9; 1 l e c Figure 11 is 'a fragmentaryperspective view of a modified form of outer shell of this invention;Figure l2-is a fragmentary view of a blank for the structure ofFigure-11;- Figure 1'3' is a view similar to Figure 11 but showingan'additional modified formof outer shell of the instant invention; and1 .Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 but showing a blank for thestructure ofi'Figure 13. Figure 6 shows-the containergenerallydesignated 10 comprising arectangular prism, in this' instance square orparallelepiped as shown. The prism 10 isa box comprisedof fourrectangular side: walls --11, two of which are joined attheir comers bya tape 12, and with a top 13 andrbottom 14.-

Y The box is usually formed from a fiat blank appropriatelyrscored andout to-iprovide the sidewalls 11 and top 13 and'ibottomfll l. 2 Usuallyit is of corrugated or chip board. The top' 13 comprises two flaps-13Asecured to opposed wallswll 1 and-two fflapsi13B secured to the othen,..opposedwalls"11. Likewise, the bottom cornprises;.similarrflaps'="14Aand 14B; When the'box is set up asyshown in Figures. 1 :and 6, the flaps13A or 13B arerfoldedqinwardlyand flaps 13B 0r 13A respec- :tivelyare:folded thereover and adhesively secured, stapled, tapedor;otherwise. fixedly positioned with respect thereto. The same is truewith the flaps 14A and 143 for the bottomm .f: 3;; Y .1 I Flaps 14A asshown in Figure l are in this instance each provided withrasemi-circular aperture which apertures-are positioned in abutment andcooperation with anapertu're in :one of the flaps: 14B to form acircular hole 15 .fora tube i16'"as subsequently explained.-,Theapertureinflapi14B is circular-and in co-operation with thesemircircular cutoutsinflaps -14A,'completes the hole "15 throughsth'ebottom 14 of thebox. In'=this instance, the hole :15 is positioned alonga median line through the bottom 14 intone direction and approximatelymid-wayibetween one of the Walls 11 and a median line in the otherdirection, although it" may be otherwise positioned and other-thancircular configurations may be'rprovided. I t W a The liner 20 providesa fluid tight container or bag closed to atmosphere and having a ventmeans. In this instance it. comprises a "tubular section, which when inthe position shown in Figure 2"provides opposed flat wall portions-21inabutment havingedges '22 and 23. The wall portions adjacent edges 23"are secured together, in thisainstance by heat-sealing, "althoughadhesive or tape may be usedp-The portions ofthe walls 21 adjacentedges22 rarevlikewise sealed or secured along the dotteda 'liner; 22Aafter the fluid has been introduced into the linerncwz a 4 1 I leePositioned on one of the walls 21 is a vent connected to hose 16 and sopositioned that the vent will coincide with the aperture formed by holewhen the linerv is in the inserted position of Figure 4. This will alsobe apparent by reference to Figure 1.

The vent comprises a conical member having a peripheral annular flange26 secured to the wall 2 1, in this .instance by heat-sealing,and'provided with a central "aperture which leads to the interior of theliner or liner. The plugged end may be provided with an integral orassembled plug.

When the liner 21 is filled with fluid and the edges 22 joined, and itis inserted within the outer shell or container 17, it will take theconfiguration of the container as shown best in Figure '1. Because theliner 21 is in the nature of a flat folded bag when empty, as shown inFigure 2, when it is confined to a rectangular prism by shell 17triangular gores or ends 34 will be formed at each side of the bottom ofthe liner and similar gores will be formed at each side of the top ofthe liner. They may be folded against the side walls 11A of the liner asshown in Figure 1 or gores 35 may be folded over the top 13C of theliner into opposed position. Gores 34 may also be folded over the bottom14C of the liner into oppositely directed relation.

The liner 21,has been shown positioned so that seamed edges 22 and 23coincide with a median line between two of the walls 11 of the containeror shell 17. However,

the liner could be so positioned that these edges form a diagonalbetween two opposed corners formed by the intersection of walls 11, orotherwise as desired. When the corner opening of Figure 6 is beingutilized, it is preferred to position these edges on the diagonal.

Likewise, while it is the preferred form of liner to make it from asection of seamless tubing folded so that portions of its walls are infiatwise abutment the liner could be made in the form of a gusseted bag,an intucked bag or any other suitable construction, asin a plurality ofpieces, to conform to the interior of the shell 17.

As shown in Figure 1 the walls 11 are reinforced with an innerreinforcing rectangular tubular ply 35, although this may be dispensedwith as desired.

A removable base cover 40 comprises a rectangular pan adapted to fitover the bottom portions of the walls 11 as shown in Figure 4 with theinner surface of stub walls 11C thereof in abutment with the exteriorsurface of walls 11, the interior dimension between walls 11C beingslightly greater than the exterior dimension between walls 11. Basecover 40 is provided with a bottom formed by flaps 14C and 14D similarto flaps 14A and 1413 for shell 17. Two spacers 41 are positioned inopposed relation within the cover 40 and secured to the bottom thereofas shown in Figure 1. The spacers in this instance comprises multipleplies of corrugated board, although multiple plies of chip board orother spacers may be used. These serve to provide an upwardly off-setbottom for the cover 40 having 'a central depression 42. As shown, thespacers are secured to bottom 40 by adhesive, although they may beotherwise secured or loose as desired. Furthermore, in some instances,it may be desirable to secure the spacers 41 to the bottom 14 of theshell 17, as shown in Figure 10. In Figure 5, the liner 21 has beenpositioned within the shell 17 and filled. The vent 25 has beenpositioned to correspond with the aperture 15 in the bottom 14and hose16 extends therethrough and is coiled at 43 to seat in the depression 42between spacers 41. It is retained in position by an adhesive tape 44secured to the larger adhesive tape 45 which tape is shown retaining theflaps 14A and 14B in position to form a bottom 14 of container 17. Thus,the assembly comprising the liner and shell is then inserted in thebottom cover as shown in Figure 4 and an adhesive tape member 46laterally passed around the junction between the two to retain the twoin position.

When it is desired to dispense liquid, the tape 46 is severed, the cover40 removed, the tape 44 broken, hose 16 extended and end 33 removed.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 is shown a modified form of the invention in whichthe tops of two adjacent walls 11 are provided with severance scorelines 50 uniting at a corner and each extending inwardly in cooperationwith a vertical severance score line 51 which in turn cooperates with ascored fold line 52. Thus, by engagement with the fingers, the corner soformed may be severed along lines 50 and 51 and folded from the positionof Figure 6 to the position of Figure 7, a triangular end 35 grasped andextended from the box as shown in Figure 7, the extreme tip 53 thereofcut-off and the liquid poured from the top of the container 21 as shownin Figure 8. This may be done when the assembly is in the position ofFigure, 4, or where the bottom cover 40 has been removed as shown inFigure 1.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown a modification of this invention inwhich the shell 17A is modified to have the walls 'of its exterior plyterminating at 60. In this instance, the walls of the cap 40A extendupwardly and into abutment therewith, and comprise an extension thereof.Thus, instead of there being a two ply shell 17 with a cap placedthereover forming a third ply for the bottom thereof, the cap structure40A and the shell 17A cooperate to provide two plies for the shell (withspaced bottoms) and when the cap 40A is removed there is one less plyfor shell 17A throughout that portion normally occupied by the cap. Thispermits the container 10 to present a relatively unbroken exteriorsurface with the top edge of the side Walls of the cap and the bottomedge of the sidewalls of the shell in abutting juxtaposition. Positionedover the juncture is a tape 61 having arip cord 62 provided with a freeend 63. Thus, end 63 may be grasped, the cord pulled in counterclockwisedirection with reference to Figure 10, severing the tape' 6 andreleasing the cap 40A from shell 17A.

In Figures 11 and 12 is shown a modified form of cap 40B in' which thecap is provided with severance score lines. joining at thecorner andconnected to vertical severance score lines 72 and score lines 73. InFigure 11, the score lines have been indicated on the blank 40B formingthe cap 40B. Thus, it will be seen that a corner of the cap 403 may besevered along lines 70, 72 and 73 thus removing a small portion of thevertical walls adjacent the corner and a portion of bottom flap 74 andcooperating bottom flap 75 so that the central recess 42 provided byspacers 41 is exposed.

In Figures 13 and 14 is shown a modified form of bottom cap 40C in whichthe bottom cap is provided with severance score lines 86 located on theblank 40C of Figure 13 as shown.

When the blank 40C is folded to form the bottom cap 40C of Figure 13 theflaps and 91 are folded into opposed relationship and flaps 92 and 93folded thereover and secured thereto, or vice versa. In either instancethe cooperation of the score lines 80-86 provides a circular scoredportion defined by line 86, positioned as shown in Figure 13 which maybe engaged by a thumb and ripped downwardly to the bottom of the box,and then an elongated tab or flap portion in the two plies of the bottomformed by the cooperation of flaps 90 and 91, 92 and 93 which maylikewise be severed and a rec tangular portion formed by lines 81 and 82positioned on the opposite wall of the cover from the position .ofscored portion 86 which also may be severed.

Thus, by removing the scored portions the center recess 42'isexposed'permitting access to thetube 16.

In the'modifications of'Figures 1l-l4'it isof course preferable to havethe cap 40B or- 40C integral with the outer shell since there is thennonecessity forremoving the entire cap to expose the dispensingmeans-but exposure is provided by removing only the scored portion ofthe cap. Thus, such modifications would look in cross-section as thestructure-of Figure 9 except that the outer ply of'the shell would" notbe severed, the cap and outer ply of the shell would be integral andthere would be no need for tape 61 of cord 62.

The outer shell or outer container is preferably formed from ablankerected'to a rectangular prism as shown, in the nature of a box, but ofcourse, it need not be formed from a blank and could be formed as shownwithout ever having been a blank. It is conventional, when corrugatedboxes or chip board boxesare used to provide such blanked constructionbecause of facility in shipment, storage, etc. and the blank is erectedinto the box when desired. Preferable materials are corrugated board,chip board' or the like, although of course other materials may be usedwithin the spiritandscope of this invention.

The liner should comprise a fluid tight container and is usually in theform of a fiat folded bag, the top of the bag being sealed by heat oradhesive after fluid is introduced into the bag. It is preferred to havethe bag thermoplastic so that itmay be heat-sealed for the substantiallycomplete exclusion of atmosphere,. and flexible so that as fluid iswithdrawn through the tube the bag will collapse and an air vent is notneeded; Synthetic resinous material such as polyethylene hasbeen foundsuperior'for this purpose. The liner material must of course berelatively chemically inert, not subjectto attack by the fluidscontained therein. A variety of suitablematerials may be used for theliner and among these, the following.

The liner should comprise a scalable, preferably heatsealable, thin,smooth, tough, pliable, membranous, fluid tight film which is relativelyinert and free from chemical attack by the liquids contained. A superiormaterial having these characteristics is polyethylene. However, othermaterials available for such use are such materials as Cry-O-Rap,butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, manufactured by the Dewey & AlmyChemical Company; moisture resistant cellophanes, that is, regeneratedcellulose sheets coated with lacquers or the like to improve theirmoisture resistance; vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymers;plasticized rubber hydrochloride which is readily sealed by heat and isavailable in the form of transparent sheets and under the trademarkPliofilm from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; thermoplastic resinsproduced by the polymerization of vinylidene chloride alone or withother monomers under the trademark Saran by Dow Chemical; plasticizedvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers available from manymanufacturers; butadiene-styrene copolymers; and many others.Polyethylene film has been found superior.

The vent is preferably of the 'same material as the liner, and in thepreferred embodiment comprises polyethylene, slightly more rigid thanthe polyethylene of the liner so that the flange may be heat-sealed tothe liner. However, likewise, the vent may be of other materials asexplained with reference to the liner and adhesively secured to theliner if desired.

The spacers are usually secured to the cover, although may be likewisesecured to the spaced bottom of the inner container if desired. They maybe constructed of any suitable material, usually several plies ofcorrugated board.

Thus, it will be seen that this invention provides a new and usefulfluid tight container in which a flexible, relatively inert liner,preferably of thermoplastic synthetic resinous material, has securedthereto a vent, preferably heat-sealed to the liner, which has anelongated flexible conduit. The liner is positioned within the outershell which confines and shapes itsconfiguration; the ventpositioned ina holeirr theshell-and the flexible conduit secured to the bottomof'the-shell which is spaced from a false bottom of the: shell, thefalse-bottom being provided, either by a removable cover or by' aportion of the shell itself.

As many widely differing embodiments ofthis-invention may be-madewithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is tobeunderstood that the" specific embodiments described are givenby wayof'example-only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims;

What is claimed:

1. In combination an outer container providing a supporting andconfining closure, and aflexible inner container positioned within saidclosure and fluid-tight, an elongated dispensing means secured to saidinner container, said outer container having'means for -supporting thebottom of said inner container in spaced relation to the bottom-of saidouter container with a. portion of said elongated'dispensing meanstherebetween, and a portion of said outer container being removablewhereby said dispensing means may be exposed.

2. In combination an outer container providing a supporting andconfining closure, an inner flexible container positioned within saidclosure and supported thereby and fluid-tight, an elongated dispensingmeans secured to said inner container, said outer container having afalse bottom for supporting the bottomof'said inner container in spacedrelation to the bottom of said outer container with a portion of saidelongated dispensing means therebetween, and the bottom of said outercontainer being removable whereby said dispensingmeans may be exposed.

3. In combination an outer fiber container providing a closure, an innerflexible container'positioned' within saidclosure and fluid-tight, anelongated dispensing means secured to said inner container, said outercontainer having a false bottom for supporting the bottom of said innercontainer in spaced relation to the bottom of said outer container witha portion of said elongated dispensing means therebetween, and portionof said outer container being scored whereby it may be removed and saiddispensing means may be exposed.

4. A container comprising in combination a flexible bag having anelongated dispensing tube secured at one end thereto, a box within whichsaid flexible bag is positioned, the bottom of the box having anaperture whereby said elongated conduit may be extended therethrough, aremovable cover means positioned on said box and providing a spacedbottom covering said aperture, said spaced bottom having a portion foraccommodating said elongated conduit.

5. A. container comprising in combination a flexible bag having anelongated dispensing conduit secured at one end thereto, a box havingside walls of multiple ply throughout at least a portion adjacent thebottom thereof within which said flexible bag is positioned, andmultiple plies providing inner and outer spaced bottoms, the innerbottom of the box having an aperture whereby said elongated conduit maybe extended therethrough, the outer ply of said side Walls beingseverable so that said spaced bottom may be removed, and spacersseparating said bottoms and providing a central recess.

6. A container comprising in combination a flexible bag having anelongated dispensing tube secured at one end thereto, a box within whichsaid flexible bag is positioned having two plies throughout the sidewalls thereof, and the bottom thereof, said plies of said bottomproviding inner and outer members, the bottom of the box having anaperture whereby said elongated conduit may be extended therethrough,and means for severing a portion of the outer ply of said side walls andsaid outer bottom member.

7. In combination, a liner of tubular. flexible inert synthetic resinousmaterial heat-sealed at the bottom and.

top to form a fluid-tight container, a vent heat-scaled to said liner atthe bottom thereof forming an opening for said container, an elongatedtube secured to said vent and having an extending closed end, a boxencasing said liner and having a hole in the bottom thereof, said tubebeing drawn through said hole with said vent being located thereby, saidtube being coiled and secured to the bottom of said box, a cap memberpositioned over the bottom of said box and secured thereto, said capmember providing a false bottom for the bottom of said box and spacedtherefrom by spacer means providing a central depression in which saidelongated tube is coiled.

8. In combination, a liner of tubular flexible inert synthetic resinousmaterial heat-sealed at the bottom and top to form a fluid-tightcontainer, a vent heat-sealed to said liner at the bottom thereofforming an opening for said container, an elongated tube secured to saidvent and having an extending closed end, a box encasing said liner andhaving a hole in the bottom thereof, said tube being drawn through saidhole with said vent being located thereby, said tube being coiled andsecured to the bottom of said box, a cap member positioned over thebottom of said box and secured thereto, said cap member providing afalse bottom for the bottom of said.

box and spaced therefrom by spacer means providing a central depressionin which said elongated tube is coiled, and score lines defining aremovable portion of said cap member whereby said tube may be exposed.

9. The snbcombination of a section of tubular synthetic resinousmaterial, said tubular material having parallel top and bottom severed,edges, said section of tubular material being collapsed radially to forma bag with two opposed wall portions bounded by folds forming edges atright angles to said severed edges, a heat Welded line seal at one ofsaid severed edges extending transversely of said tubular section andforming a closure for one end of said bag, a dispensing meansheat-sealed to one of said opposed flat wall portions, said flat wallportion'beingapertured adjacent said heat-sealed end closure, saiddispensing means having an opening connecting with said aperture, saiddispensing means including a flange of synthetic resinous materialheat-sealed to said wall and including a ferrule, and an elongatedflexible tube of small diameter having a closed extending end andsecured to said ferrule.

10. The structure of claim 9 further characterized in that saiddispensing means comprises a conical member having a peripheral annularflange heat-sealed to said flat wall portion and provided with a centralaperture to the interior of said bag, a ferrule extending from saidconical member, and said conical member having ridge means for retainingsaid tube thereon.

11. The structure of claim 9 further characterized by said tubularsection being heat-sealed by a line seal at said other severance edge toform a fluid-tight closure.

12. The structure of claim 9 further characterized by an open top boxencasing said liner and having a hole in the bottom thereof, said tubebeing drawn through said hole with said dispensing means being locatedthereby, said tube being coiled and secured to the bottom of said boxand removable closure means covering said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,214,944 Vogt Sept. 17, 1940 2,446,308 Smith Aug. 3, 1948 2,574,931Nason Nov. 13, 1951 2,681,747 Norris et al June 22, 1954 2,685,385 KussAug. 3, 1954 2,801,577 Ingham Aug. 6, 1957 2,815,887 Ford et a1. Dec.10, 1957

